Friday 13 February 2015

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: The Dark Side of the Road - Simon R Green

Release Date: 30/01/15
Publisher:  Severn House Publishers

SYNOPSIS:

Ishmael Jones is someone who can't afford to be noticed, someone who lives under the radar, who drives on the dark side of the road. He's employed to search out secrets, investigate mysteries and shine a light in dark places. Sometimes he kills people. Invited by his employer, the enigmatic Colonel, to join him and his family for Christmas, Ishmael arrives at the grand but isolated Belcourt Manor in the midst of a blizzard to find that the Colonel has mysteriously disappeared. As he questions his fellow guests, Ishmael concludes that at least one of them - not least Ishmael himself - is harbouring a dangerous secret, and that beneath the veneer of festive cheer lurk passion, jealousy, resentment and betrayal. As a storm sets in, sealing off the Manor from the rest of the world, Ishmael must unmask a ruthless murderer before they strike again.


REVIEW:

OK,. I’m a huge Simon Green fan, I’ve loved stories he’s woven before from the immutable Deathstalker series through to the fun I had with his Secret History series so when I read that he had a new book out and that it had a supernatural edge I couldn’t wait to see what would occur.

What unfurled within was a story that had some solid crime mystery elements and whilst a little predictable with the overall thinking was something that entertained, that was of course until the book went its “supernatural” way that left me feeling that it wasn’t something that was required, the reveal felt flat, almost as if it had to happen at that point and overall from there on it was rushed to get to an ending that was more of a fix than an y solid real conclusion. Almost as if the author gave up 80% of the way through the writing (or was rushing to meet the deadline.) Don’t get me wrong, there will be people that will love it, but for me, I just didn’t like the way it felt that the author had to tie it all up in a nice big bow.

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